Keeping tabs on Fido, man catches thief

A Washington man's careful observation of his dog led him to spot an intruder in his home.

Steve Jochmann was watching his 2-year-old puppy from a webcam he had set up in his home when he had suddenly noticed that the canine ran off, startled by a burglar, reported HLN affiliate KCPQ-TV.

"My dog came through the doggy door into the kitchen, barked another time and went on through the living room," Jochmann said.

Shortly after, Jochmann saw the burglar leave the laundry room and head into his living room. Noticeably shaken on the phone, Jochmann screamed at the imposter from his laptop. The crook then proceeded to shut the laptop and steal it before Jochmann's eyes.

The Redmond Police Department reported that 42 suburban homes have been broken into in the past three months. The most common items stolen included jewelry, electronics and prescription drugs.

Jim Bove, community outreach facilitator for the Redmond Police Department, said that burglaries have been occurring at a rate of about one every three days. He advised that residents ensure that their windows are locked, that they trim the bushes around their homes and that neighbors look out for suspicious activity in nearby houses.

While Bove's precautionary measures are appreciated, Jochmann has decided to take further action by installing surveillance cameras around his house.

"If this happens again and somebody does come into the house, there will be video, there will be a picture of this person coming through," Jochmann said.